MSU Alumni Association Executive Director Scott Westerman talks with remarkable MSU alumna Brittany Fox about her Thai Song Fair Trade project, “dedicated to empowering Thai women to overcome poverty, improve their community and better their environment by providing dignified employment. We seek to bring economic freedom and hope for women living in poverty in the slums of Bangkok,” Brittany tells Scott.

In 2009, Fox and a partner started Thai Song Fair Trade, a business focused on the empowerment of women who are often faced with problems stemming from poverty, lack of education and injustice. The women make unique and fashionable earrings and bags out of trash, recycled plastic bags and pop cans. Each unique purchase promotes environmental stability and emits freedom into the lives of women in need.

“During my first visit to Thailand in 2007 my heart broke for the women of that nation,” Fox says. “And I just knew that I had to do something about their situation.

“I had a heart to serve and heart to learn about gender injustices happening around the world,” Fox tells Westerman. “I had experienced gender injustice in my own life and struggled with my identity as a woman. So I wanted to learn more about the plight of women internationally, and I wanted to see what struggles they were going through in their lives and wanted to hear their stories.

“I didn’t want to just read about them; I wanted to sit down and talk with them and hear from their hearts.”

Westerman asks Fox for her advice for young women graduating from MSU today seeking their passions.

“Don’t be afraid to take risks; don’t be afraid to step out and try something new, even if no one else has done it before.”